Does This Bother Anyone Else Or Am I Just Weird?

[wexy]

Posted: 11/18/06 at 7:21pm

Often when I go to a play or musical, there are placards with reviews of the show in the lobby. People about to go in are clustered around and reading the reviews.

I read reviews but I'm ready to say to them "Read the review after the performance and see if you agree or not." Just a peeve of mine but they stand around and point at the review in the lobby.

[Miss B. L. T. Down]

Posted: 11/18/06 at 7:26pm

They do this in movie theaters too. I do the same as you. I won't read the review as I'm heading in, but I may read it after the show lets out.

[PaintWordPictures]

Posted: 11/18/06 at 7:27pm

Especially considering the reviews in the lobby are obviously going to encourage people to see the show. A show isn't going to put up a poster with a bad review spattered across it.

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 11/18/06 at 7:33pm

Why would it bother you? They've already bought a ticket, they're already at the show and are in the process of forming their own opinions about it. What's the big deal about reading the review? Why should anyone wait to read the review after the show? Presumably thousands have read reviews already -- that's probably why a lot of them decided to see the show in the first place. Not to mention, reviews often contain interesting bits of background information about the show (available to critics in in the press packet, but not to regular theatregoers) that might add to the experience. How is reading a review any different from discussing and sharing opinions about the play with a companion in the lobby?

[wexy]

Posted: 11/18/06 at 7:39pm

Good point Margo.

[bwayondabrain]

Posted: 11/18/06 at 7:40pm

i usually read reviews before i buy tickets to a show
but if i buy them before a show gets reviewed, then i read them in the lobby before i see the show, not after

[purpleprince101]

Posted: 11/18/06 at 8:07pm

if i want to see it i go and no reviews

[blaxx]

Posted: 11/18/06 at 8:19pm

You're just weird... :P

[Dover]

Posted: 11/18/06 at 9:02pm

I find they're more commonly seen on the outside of a theatre where passers-by can read them and maybe decide to buy a ticket. Having them inside the theatre past the ticket-takers seems rather pointless.

[TomMonster]

Posted: 11/18/06 at 9:20pm

I love reading the placards in the theatre before the show. It gets me more in the mood and sometimes there is great insight into the show's meaning.

They never post the negative ones and it's interesting for me to read other opinions. They rarely, if ever, change my own...

[StageManager2]

Posted: 11/18/06 at 9:36pm

Honestly, I hadn't noticed. Then again, I'm very oblivious, which explains why I'm a terrible driver.